squistion

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790413485572288813 HOFFINGER: In the months after the raids, in your home, office, hotel, did you have conversations with your family about the matter? COHEN: yes COHEN: “And the conversations with my family was what to do. We’re in this unique situation. Never experienced. And my family, my wife, my daughter. My son. All said to me, why are you holding on to this loyalty. What are you doing. We’re supposed to be your first loyalty.” HOFFINGER: So what decision did you make COHEN: “That it was about time to listen to them.” COHEN: to my wife, my daughter, my son, and the country

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790412551848943882 PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT 208 - EMAIL FROM COSTELLO TO COHEN “Something you should see. Bob” COHEN EMAIL TO COSTELLO: SUBJECT LINE: “Giuliani on possibility of Cohen cooperating, Mueller probe - YouTube” "Why send this to me?" ____________________________________ HOFFINGER: What was the video about? COHEN: My possible cooperation in the Mueller probe EXHIBIT - [portions of] EMAIL FROM COSTELLO TO COHEN “The answer to your question will be found in watching the video…” HOFFINGER: Did you ever tell the truth to Mr Costello about Trump’s involvement in AMI’s purchase of the McDougal story to prevent it coming out or his involvement in your payment to Stormy Daniels to keep it from coming out? COHEN: NO

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790410624088072548 EMAIL From Robert Costello TO Michael Cohen Michael, Since you jumped off the phone rather abruptly, I did not get a chance to tell you that my friend has communicated to me that he is meeting with his client this evening, and he added that if there was anything you wanted to convey you should tell me and my friend will bring it up for discussion this evening. “ HOFFINGER: who was the “my friend” reference? COHEN: Giuliani and Giuliani’s "client" would refer to Trump HOFFINGER: why didn’t he use the names Giuliani and Trump? COHEN: “to be covert,” “very I-spyish” COHEN: “Clearly never mentioning President Trump, just using codeword.” HOFFINGER: What did this mean? COHEN: They are talking about potential pre-pardons, I believe. COHEN: Mr. Costello was again pressuring me as he had done with constant calls and emails and he wanted to absolutely be retained to represent me in this matter and I said I was speaking with someone in a boutique firm and not ready to engage. Costello was angry that I would sit down with the other attorney and not sit down with him and I’d had enough and I told him...and he expressed to me that it was necessary to seek clarification. My concern here is all of these conversations were being relayed back to Giuliani and of course President Trump.

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790408461278453893 PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT 204 - ROBERT COSTELLO EMAIL TO COHEN Michael, I just spoke to Rudy Giuliani and told him I was on your team. Rudy was thrilled and said this could not be a better situation for the President or you. He asked me if it was ok to call the President and Jay Sekelow and I said fine. We discussed the facts, Jay Goldberg’s stupid remarks, etc. He asked me to tell you that he knows how tough this is on you and your family and he will make sure to tell the president. He said thank you for opening this back channel of communication and asked me to keep in touch. I told him I would after speaking to you further. PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT 205 - [Portions of] EMAIL FROM ROBERT COSTELLO TO COHEN I spoke with Rudy, Very Very positive, you are loved….I told him everything you asked me to….there was never a doubt and they are in our corner…..”Sleep well tonight. You have friends in high places… PS Some very positive comments about you from the White House COHEN: "The 'friend in high places' was President Trump” PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT 407F SHOWN - THE TRUMP TWEET [showing support for Cohen] HOFFINGER: What’s the date of these tweets? COHEN: April 21, 2018, same date as email from Costello HOFFINGER: What effect did these emails and support tweets have on you? COHEN: “It let me know that I was still important to the team and stay the course, that the President had my back.”

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790407406587113974 HOFFINGER: You understood that if you provided the info about Trump [and Stormy Daniels] to Costello that the info would go somewhere else? COHEN: I was concerned when he mentioned his close relationship with Rudy that anything I said would be told to Giuliani, and since Giuliani was close with trump, I was worried anything that I said would get back to him.” HOFFINGER: After the meeting with Costello did you also speak on phone and exchange emails and text messages? COHEN: Yes

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790405583583220015 After a brief morning recess, Michael Cohen is back on the stand. HOFFINGER: Are you familiar with a lawyer named Robert Costello? COHEN: Yes. HOFFINGER: Did Mr. Trump tell you anything about Costello's background? COHEN: He told me he was a criminal defense attorney and “incredibly close to Rudy Giuliani." I met him at the Regency; I was distraught, nervous, concerned. At that meeting at the Regency, their immediate concern was: "First is that you have to obviously try to…remember what’s in those boxes…” [the boxes that were seized] HOFFINGER: Did he tell you about his ties to Giuliani? COHEN: Costello said: “As close as you can imagine.” “And that would be a relationship that would be very beneficial to you going forward with this matter.” COHEN: “Mr. Giuliani at the time had a very close relationship and was spending a tremendous amount of time with Mr. Trump.” COHEN: Costello said this would be a great way to have a back channel to the President to make sure you are still good and still secure amount of time with Mr. Trump.”

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790403268646244828 HOFFINGER: What effect if anything did these public statements have on you? COHEN: They reinforced my loyalty, and my intention to stay in the fold HOFFINGER: Was the Trump Org paying your legal fees? COHEN: yes. HOFFINGER: You a part of a joint defense agreement? COHEN: I was. HOFFINGER: what understanding did you have about that statement? COHEN: “That Mr trump did not want me to cooperate with the government, or certainly not provide information or flip”

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790402922251174124 EXHIBIT SHOWN - TRUMP TWEET (4/21/18) ABOUT MAGGIE HABERMAN/NYT: The New York times and a third rate reporter named Maggie Haberman, known as a Crooked H flunkie who I don’t speak to and have nothing to do with, are going out of their way to destroy Michael Cohen and his relationship with me in the hope that he will “flip.” They use…non-existent “sources” and a drunk/drugged up loser who hates Michael, a fine person with a wonderful family. Michael is a businessman for his own account/lawyer who I have always liked & respected. Most people will flip if the Government lets them out of trouble, even if… …it means lying or making up stories. Sorry, I don’t see Michael doing that despite the horrible Witch Hunt and the dishonest media!

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790401973491249234 HOFFINGER: Was your call with Trump important? COHEN: Very. “I wanted some reassurances that Mr. Trump had my back. Especially as this dealt with issues that related to him.” HOFFINGER: How did that call affect you in terms of how you acted? COHEN: When the President of the United States says don't worry, “I felt reassured because I had the President of the United States protecting me. It’s his Justice Department, this should go nowhere.” HOFFINGER: You were going to stay loyal to him? COHEN: Yes. HOFFINGER: Did others reach out to you? What did they say? COHEN: "You’re loved, don’t worry, [Trump]’s got your back, he's the “most powerful guy in the country if not the world,” “you’re going to be okay” HOFFINGER: Did you initially maintain ties to President Trump? COHEN: Only through other people; I believed that was “extremely” important to do. Since that phone call in April of 2018, Cohen has not spoken directly to Trump.

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790400581104021785 HOFFINGER: You spoke to Trump? COHEN: I left him a message for him to call me to let him know what was taking place and he said to me: “He said to me don’t worry. I’m the president of the United States. There’s nothing here. Everything’s going to be okay. Stay tough. You’re going to be okay.”

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790399894513184893 HOFFINGER: What happened in April 2018? COHEN: I was raided by the FBI. I was at the Loews Regency because my apt was flooded and we were there while construction was going on. At 7am there was a knock on the door and I looked thru the peephole and saw lots of people, I opened the door and they asked me to step in hallway and they also raided my apt and my law office and TD Bank, which had safety deposit boxes which I had just opened for my valuables while my apt was under repair. WHAT THE SEARCH WARRANT GAVE THEM RIGHT TO TAKE, PER COHEN: “Took my two cell phones” “Any electronic devices” “Records” “A series of my tax books as well as other documents” “Ultimately found out they also packed up much of documentation that was in my law office, and took that as well” HOFFINGER: you mentioned two phones - were those 0114 containing audio recording with Trump? COHEN: Yes ma’am HOFFINGER: that was one and they seized another COHEN: correct HOFFINGER: the one with the audio recording, did you know the FBI was going to show up and take phones? COHEN: no ma'am HOFFINGER: how did you feel at the time about the search? COHEN: “how to describe your life being turned upside down" Concerned, despondent, angry” HOFFINGER: “Were you frightened?” COHEN: “Yes, ma'am”

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790399543445778568 HOFFINGER: Do you recall when Mr. Trump agreed through his lawyers not to enforce the NDA, at what point did that occur? COHEN: I don’t recall HOFFINGER: Was that a civil case? COHEN: Yes HOFFINGER: Would Mr. Trump be required to sit for a deposition? COHEN: Yes

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790398699908268216 HOFFINGER: Did you learn Stormy Daniels was going to go public as a result of you saying it was your money, and is that why you got a TRO against her? COHEN: Yes. HOFFINGER: Was that at Mr. Trump’s direction to work with Larry Rosen to get a restraining order? COHEN: Yes, as well as with Eric Trump HOFFINGER: Did you get a TRO? COHEN: Yes, we filed in California. COHEN: “You’re required to serve the TRO on the individual. I of course didn't have Stormy's address, so I tried to serve it to Keith Davidson” COHEN: By "I", I mean the group: me, Larry Rosen, etc. COHEN: Davidson said he is no longer representing her and then the lawyer Davidson said was representing her said he was no longer and then we learned that Michael Avenatti was going to be representing her going forward.

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790398032066068504 Katie's Sidebar: Unlike yesterday where there very few objections and zero sidebars, today the defense seems to have decided that it wants to object so there have been several more objections lodged, some of which have been sustained. There also have been a number of sidebars already this morning.

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790397030042574907 HOFFINGER: Around Feb. 2018, did the WSJ reach out to you about AMI’s payoff of Karen McDougal? COHEN: Yes ma’am HOFFINGER: Did they reach out to you about an FEC complaint about AMI’s payoff of Karen McDougal? COHEN: Yes HOFFINGER: Do you recall what the WSJ was asking you about? COHEN: AMI’s participation in the payoff, and David Pecker HOFFINGER: Did they ask at all about your involvement or Mr. Trump’s involvement? COHEN: Yes. COHEN: David [Pecker] was very concerned because it was going to affect AMI and affect him so I told him that I would assist with this matter, and I told him after conversations with the president, do not worry I have this thing under control we have it taken care of. HOFFINGER: What did you tell Pecker? COHEN: “I told him that the matter was going to be taken care of, and the person that was going to be able to do it was JEFF SESSIONS.” Cohen said he had been told by Trump that Sessions would handle it.

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790395860783870234 PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT 217- SIGNAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN JAY SEKULOW AND COHEN Date: FEB 19 2018 7:14p HOFFINGER: Does the communication reflect use of Signal? COHEN: Yes, this is from Signal HOFFINGER: IS this an exact copy? COHEN: Yes FROM JS TO MC: "Client says thanks for what you do" COHEN: The "client" here refers to Trump

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790395207089004764 MERCHAN PROVIDES A LIMITING INSTRUCTION TO THE JURY RE: THIS EXHIBIT MERCHAN: You just saw the FEC complaint and the statement from Cohen. You may use that to judge the witness’s credibility, and for context. “You may consider that testimony for those purposes only. Neither the fact of the FEC investigation, or the responses thereto constitute evidence of the defendant's guilt.” MERCHAN: “And you may not consider them” when deciding if defendant is guilty of charged crimes. HOFFINGER: At the same time, did you also provide that statement to Jay Sekulow? COHEN: I did, he was representing Trump, he’s an attorney HOFFINGER: why did you send to him? COHEN: “I was referred to Mr. Sekulow by Sean Hannity to speak about the FEC complaint, and I was instructed by Mr. Trump to keep in touch with Jay Sekulow because he was the contact for Mr. Trump”

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790394746407694697 PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT 202 - STATEMENT FROM MICHAEL COHEN ABOUT THE FEC COMPLAINT "In a private transaction in 2016, I used my own personal funds to facilitate a $130,000 payment to Ms. Stephanie Clifford, Neither the Trump Org nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction..." HOFFINGER: Was this statement false? COHEN: Yes HOFFINGER: An additional line at the bottom says that it was lawful and not a campaign contribution? COHEN: “it was me drawing a legal conclusion which is inaccurate"

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790393993135804458 PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT 260 - TEXTS BETWEEN COHEN AND MAGGIE HABERMAN OF NYT (2/13/18) HOFFINGER: Who is Maggie Haberman? COHEN: She is a reporter for the New York Times. FROM MC TO MH: Big boss just approved me responding to complaint and statement. Please start writing and I will call you soon

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790392605186076894 PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT 201 - LETTER ON MCDERMOTT WILL AND EMERY LETTERHEAD “In a private transaction in 2016, before the U.S. presidential election, Mr. Cohen used his own personal funds to facilitate a payment of $130,000 to Ms. Stephanie Clifford. Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed Mr. Cohen for the payment directly or indirectly.” HOFFINGER: “Was that statement false or misleading? COHEN: Misleading. While crafting the statement, we elected to state neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction. That’s a true statement…” “But it’s misleading.” COHEN: “It was neither the Trump organization nor the Trump campaign; it was Donald J. Trump himself.” HOFFINGER: Did you intend for it to be misleading? COHEN: Yes ma'am. HOFFINGER: why? COHEN: “In order to protect mr. trump, to stay on message, to demonstrate continued loyalty.” HOFFINGER: Did he approve the substance of the statement? COHEN: He did

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790392060480299077 PEOPLE’S EXHIBIT 278 - Official statement of Stormy Daniels - Jan 30, 2018 (This is the second statement) HOFFINGER: Did you try to get Stormy Daniels to issue another denial? COHEN: Despite thinking the story was dying, there were still persistent reporters looking into this and I thought it would be helpful to put an end to it. HOFFINGER: did you know at the time this statement was false? COHEN: Yes HOFFINGER: How did you know COHEN: “Because I helped him craft it”

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790391107538567430 EXHIBIT - TEXT EXCHANGE BETWEEN COHEN AND KEITH DAVIDSON DATE: JANUARY 10, 2018 FROM KD TO MC: WSJ called stormy. She didn’t answer. They say they are running story & have a deadline of tonight for her to comment FROM MC TO KD: Write a strong denial comment for her like you did before FROM MC TO KD Call me back HOFFINGER: Did you pressure Keith Davidson to lie? Why? COHEN: to protect Mr. trump and KD provided a statement HOFFINGER: Was Mr Trump and his lawyer also part of that? COHEN: Yes HOFFINGER: Who was benefiting from joint defense agreement? COHEN: “I believe several people benefited but certainly President Trump” HOFFINGER: You pressured Keith Davidson to have Stormy issue a statement? COHEN: I do, this is statement KD sent to me in regard to denial I requested HOFFINGER: who did you send to? COHEN: I sent it to the WSJ HOFFINGER: Did you know the statement of Stormy Daniels was false? COHEN: Yes COHEN: I wanted to get credit /staying loyal, so we could have this matter taken care of

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790390089862009293 Now questions to Cohen about the WSJ ARTICLE: TRUMP LAWYER ARRANGED $130,000 PAYMENT FOR ADULT-FILM STAR’S SILENCE HOFFINGER: When the story was coming out did you comment publicly? COHEN: yes, to reporters and others HOFFINGER: Did you tell the truth about Trump's role in the payoff? COHEN: No, ma'am HOFFINGER: how did you reach Trump in 2018? COHEN: By contacting Madeleine Westerhout or over the cell phone HOFFINGER: who was Madeleine Westerhout at the time? COHEN: White House secretary who sat outside the Oval Office HOFFINGER: Did you discuss with President Trump the statements that you were going to be releasing publicly in 2018, meaning statements that Trump did not know or was not involved in the payoffs? COHEN: “Yes” HOFFINGER: what did you tell Trump about those statements? COHEN: “that I had paid the money on his behalf without his knowledge” HOFFINGER: How did he respond? COHEN: "that’s good, good."

https://twitter.com/KatiePhang/status/1790388563185713383 HOFFINGER: Did you lie ? COHEN: I did. The lies dealt with the Trump Tower Moscow real estate project, specifically the number of times that I claimed to have spoken to Mr. Trump… I said I only spoke to Pres. Trump about the project three times when I had really spoken about it ten times HOFFINGER: did you say those communications stopped earlier than they did? Why did you make those false statements to Congress? COHEN: Because I was staying on Trump’s message, and "there was no Russia, Russia, Russia" and that was what was preferred. HOFFINGER: Did you continue to lie about Mr Trump's involvement in the Stormy Daniels payoff and pressure Keith Davidson to lie about the payoffs to Karen McDougal? COHEN: yes HOFFINGER: Why did you do that? COHEN: “in order to protect Mr. Trump”